Geppetto Café brings European flavor to Pittsburgh’s Butler Street

Brie, butter and buckwheat flour are imported from France

Those who complain that Butler Street is slowly becoming East Carson Street should take heart that the now-closed Double D Saloon has been replaced, not by another bar, but by a European-style breakfast nook.

Evren Karabacak opened Geppetto Café in mid-March because, he explains, “I think the city needs more European places.” Crepes, both savory and sweet, are the star of the menu, and range from the basic to the complex. The Bonjour incorporates bacon, scrambled eggs and brie; the Cheesecake crepe is filled with ricotta, white chocolate and raspberry. The sweet configurations can be served atop waffles, if crepes aren’t your style, and both savory and sweet varieties of French toast are also available. Many ingredients, including brie, butter and buckwheat flour, are imported from France. La Prima provides the shop with espresso; since Karabacak is originally from Istanbul, the drink menu features Turkish coffee alongside the expected lattes and Americanos.

The long, narrow space and casual, quirky décor (dozens of colorful books hang from the ceiling, and little Pinocchios peek out from crevices in the brick walls) makes Geppetto Cafe a natural choice for a brunch date or mid-afternoon lunch. Karabacak says he wanted a “rustic-looking ambiance” to match the European menu, but the venue also suggests the feel of a cozy American diner. There’s nowhere quite like it in Pittsburgh, which is why Karabacak felt Butler Street was a fitting location. “I saw a lot of opportunity in Lawrenceville,” he says. “It’s constantly evolving.”